Ray-Ban Heir Details Drug Use, Claims 2,000 Partners, Blasts Company Leadership

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, a 31-year-old heir to the Ray-Ban fortune, has revealed in a recent interview that he has struggled with drug addiction and claims to have been romantically involved with over 2,000 women. Del Vecchio, whose net worth is estimated at over $5 billion, attributed his drug use to a lack of affection from his late father, Leonardo Del Vecchio.

These revelations come amid a significant family dispute over the control of EssilorLuxottica, the company that owns Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, and LensCrafters, and which is in a high-profile partnership with Meta for AI-powered eyewear.

In a podcast interview, Del Vecchio stated that his primary drug of choice was benzodiazepine, prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders. He described his addiction as a "darkness" that he has since sought to overcome, particularly after the birth of his daughter. "I haven’t grabbed onto it with all the strength of my hands yet, so I’m not saying I’m out of it forever but, yes, this time I do see the light," he said.

Del Vecchio, who also owns a nightclub in Milan, estimated his number of sexual partners to be over 2,000, often using the Enrique Iglesias song "Hero" to court them.

He resigned from his positions as chief strategy officer of EssilorLuxottica and president of Ray-Ban in the summer, stating his intention to pursue new entrepreneurial ventures. As one of eight heirs to his father's estate, Del Vecchio has been involved in a contentious battle for control of the family's holding company, Delfin.

Del Vecchio recently sought loans from the family holding company to buy out two of his siblings for approximately $11.2 billion, but his request was not supported. He has reportedly also pushed to increase his stake in Delfin from 12.5% to 37.5% to consolidate his position and potentially end succession uncertainties.

In the interview, Del Vecchio was critical of EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri, whom his father had appointed. Del Vecchio cited the company's stock performance, which has seen a nearly 46% decline this year, as evidence of a lack of effective vision following his father's death. "There has not been the right vision after my father. And it is the market that says it, not me," he asserted.

EssilorLuxottica, with a current market value of approximately 68.1 billion euros, has seen its shares fall significantly. The company's board and senior executives have previously expressed support for Milleri.

The governance structure of Delfin, established after the elder Del Vecchio's death in June 2022, grants each heir a 12.5% stake. This arrangement was intended to maintain balance but requires broad consensus for major decisions. Delfin holds a significant stake, about 32.4%, in EssilorLuxottica.

Del Vecchio has previously faced controversy, including an engagement to actress Jessica Serfaty in 2023. Serfaty had accused Del Vecchio of abuse shortly after their engagement, but later withdrew the allegations, telling The New York Times she felt pressured to do so. Del Vecchio did not comment on the Times' report.